Thanks, BC. I love Neil Postman.
Nineteen Eighty-Four was written after World War II, so Orwell had collective experience to draw on. What's really terrible is that even after so many people have fought tyranny so hard, others who haven't had to don't put their freedoms to better use.
I'd like to post a lot more on this thread... sorry that I haven't yet been able to say all that I've had in mind.